Australian Defense Force Commander David Johnston will step down on July 10. In an interview with Australian media before his departure, he once again raised the issue of so-called “Chinese military threats.” On one hand, he questioned the development of Chinese military forces and military activities without any basis. On the other hand, he admitted that Australian troops have also been active in the waters around China, far from their home country, but argued that “these two situations are not the same.”
According to the Australian newspaper The Sydney Herald, Johnston said that with China's rapid military development, Australia can no longer rely on the so-called "ten-year strategic warning period" from the past. It is necessary to prepare for the "worst-case scenario" with a "stronger sense of urgency." He also defended the U.S., Australia, and Japan trilateral security partnership (AUKUS) nuclear submarine program, stating that it will be a "game-changer" for Australia's military strength.
When talking about China, Johnston claimed that China should provide more "transparency" and "assurances" regarding its military intentions. He used incidents such as the Chinese naval fleet's voyage around Australia last year to emphasize that "Chinese military forces are appearing more frequently near Australia," and accused China and Australia of having more "unsafe and unprofessional" encounters between their military aircraft and ships in recent years.
However, Johnston also admitted that China's military activities are 'not illegal'. At the same time, the Australian Defence Force has also been conducting operations in regions like the South China Sea, far from their home country.
Facing this apparent contradiction, he argued that "there are key differences between the Australian military and the Chinese military."
Johnston stated that Australia's defense strategy is "open and transparent". The deployment of Australian troops in the region is mainly through joint training and exercises with regional countries, and the relevant waters are important maritime trade routes for Australia. "Why should we be able to make the same judgment regarding the presence of Chinese military forces near Australia?"
In recent years, the Australian side has repeatedly accused China of being 'dangerous' and 'incompetent' due to incidents such as approaching by military aircraft and ships. The Chinese side has repeatedly emphasized that it is the frequent approach of Australian military ships and aircraft near China's borders for reconnaissance and provocation that constitutes the root cause of maritime and air security risks. The actions of the Australian side ignore facts and resort to twisting the truth.
In addition to issues related to China, Johnston also discussed Australia’s defense construction. He stated that the Australian government has planned to invest 887 billion Australian dollars in the defense budget over the next 10 years. The military should first demonstrate its ability to use taxpayer funds more efficiently, rather than simply demanding increased military spending. He also acknowledged that there have been issues such as overspending and delays in some major military equipment projects in the past, and there is a need to strengthen management measures.
